Our Lady

The Church has solemnly defined four truths about the Blessed Virgin Mary: that she is the Mother of God, ever-virgin, immaculately conceived, and assumed into heaven. Here is what each one means, when it was defined, and why every one of them is really about Christ.

The Immaculate Conception is one of the most commonly confused teachings of the Catholic Church. It is not about the conception of Jesus, but of Mary. Here is what it means, where it comes from, and why it matters.

Catholics believe that Mary was taken up body and soul into heaven at the end of her life. Here is what the Assumption means, how it differs from the Ascension, whether Mary died first, and why it gives hope to every Christian.

The Gospels mention the "brothers and sisters" of Jesus, yet the Church teaches that Mary remained a virgin all her life. Here is who these relatives were, what the Bible actually says, and why Christians have held this belief from the beginning.